IMAGE GALLERY: Walsh Hosts 2nd Annual Hunger Banquet

Walsh Middle School held its 2nd Annual Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, last month, under the direction of sixth grade social studies teachers Krista Zechello, Dalia Stewart, and Emily Parks.

More than 175 individuals attended the event, which brings awareness of the unequal distribution of wealth, food, and shelter in the world.

The event was a social experiment where people were told to pick a ticket out of a box. The color of the ticket determined where you were to sit: high income, middle income, low income, explained Walsh Principal Patrick Johnson.

Some individuals are born into relative prosperity and security, while millions through no choice of their own-are born into poverty, said Johnson.

The teacher and student run event began with a mini skit presented by students. One student was a young girl from Benin, and the other, a young girl from the United States of America. The skit took attendees through a regular day, and the scripts were accurate to the lifestyle and food and eating rituals of each girl.

Each income group had a specific meal to show the drastic difference of food served and the atmosphere of how that class enjoys a meal.

High income was served sparkling cider, a bowl of salad, and a heaping bowl of pasta. Their tables were decorated with tablecloths, gleaming plates and silverware, and champagne glasses.

The middle income group approached a buffet line and received a small scoop of rice, a small scoop of beans, a half a slice of bread, and a cup of water. Their table settings were bare with no decorations.

Low income was required to sit on the gym floor. They had to walk far across the gym, to represent the many miles women walk each day to fetch water for their families, explained Johnson.

Low income attendees received a half a slice of bread and a dixie cup of water. They weren’t supplied dishes, napkins, or utensils.

The audience was asked to think and reflect on the night’s events, and share either aloud or on a sticky note something that they learned, felt, or took away from the hunger banquet, said Johnson.

These are some of the adult reflections:

• “I think it’s wonderful to expose these children who have so much to be aware of the fact that so many have so little.”
• “Really demonstrates how most people’s station in life is up to chance and that being lower class is no indication of how hard they work.”
• “I realized how little food low income people get. I was middle income. I got an ok amount of food but I still can’t imagine how little low income people get. Now I really want to try my hardest to help people who have low and middle incomes.”
• “Seeing the numbers of people who are hungry every day is very sad and thought-provoking. It also makes me think of how fortunate I am and how easy life is for just few.”

These are what some of the students said:

• “It was weird seeing my friends eating less than me. I can not imagine being in the lower class.”
• “I learned how lucky we are. We should be doing more as a society to end hunger and poverty.”
• “This makes me realize that too many people in the world don’t have food or other necessities. I am also very thankful for what I have.”
• “I did not realize how many people in the world are low income. It is half of the world that is low income, and that is not good.”

The night ended with a unified musical performance by the students. They proudly performed Michael Jackson’s famous song Heal the World, said Johnson.

The message relayed: stand up and make a difference, said the principal.

Much of the audience members teared up, he said.

As the audience left, they left donations to help Oxfam America to continue their work across the globe. The event raised almost $200, said Johnson.